SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0802
* SpaceNews 02-Aug-99 *
BID: $SPC0802
=========
SpaceNews
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MONDAY AUGUST 2, 1999
* AMSAT-UK COLLOQUIUM REPORT *
==============================
Report on the AMSAT-UK Colloquium, 23 to 25 July 1999 de G3RWL
Last weekend, about 80 people from 18 countries and 5 continents got
together to talk about satellites (and be talked to) and socialize.
It seems that everyone had a good time too.
No major news came out of the event; there were a few minor snippets
though:
* Phase-3D. No launch date was announced. Whispers suggested an
announcement "real soon now" and the bird should definitely be up,
tested, and operational by this time next year provided the (already
chosen) launch has no problems. Commercial confidentiality (for the
other rider(s) on this flight) is the reason for the secrecy. But
things ARE happening.
* What is P3D's highest frequency downlink? WRONG, it is not 24 GHz.
There is a laser on board, half a watt on 834 nM which is intended
to be modulated by 400 bps data and CW (a phantom flasher?)
* SSTL's UoSat-12 (Oscar 36) carries a (yet to be used) gravity gradient
boom. Incidentally, their first mock-up of the bird was made in plywood
obtained from a local do-it-yourself store.
* Orbits can be "tuned", if you have a small propulsion system on board,
into what is called a "Frozen Orbit" whereby perturbations can be
minimized.
* AMSAT-France have stopped work on their Maelle project so that they
can concentrate their resources on other (educational) projects.
* TECHSAT (OSCAR-32) may have its BBS software loaded soon.
There was a good mix of speakers across the board from PhD papers to
how to modify various pieces of equipment (eg for 38k4 and Drake 2880's).
A small team of testers, with sophisticated test equipment reaching up
into the microwave bands, did sterling service and were kept busy mainly,
it seems, with Drake 2880 converters.
Beginners' sessions were, for the first time, included as a second lecture
stream. These were popular on the Saturday but poorly attended on the
Sunday (they competed with a rocket firing). This innovation (beginners,
not rockets) will be included in future Colloquia but probably only on the
Saturday.
The annual Dinner and sale of surplus equipment was well attended. There
weren't many presentations (we sell surplus rather than make speeches) but
AMSAT-UK presented AMSAT-NA President KB1SF with a cheque for US $13340
for P3D thermal blankets and AMSAT-OZ put UK Pounds 876 (about US $1400)
into AMSAT-UK's P3D fund. The G3AAJ trophy was awarded to Werner Haas,
DJ5KQ in recognition of his many (many, many) years of service to amateur
satellites. It was presented to DB2OS as Werner was unable to attend.
The final presentation of the Colloquium was a report on the SWOT
(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis conducted
earlier this year by AMSAT-UK in response to a decrease in membership.
This full report will shortly be available on AMSAT-UK's web pages
for all members who care to comment.
The Colloquium was followed by the AMSAT-UK Annual Meeting where most
of the committee were re-elected and other business was conducted.
73
Richard W L Limebear G3RWL
Colloquium Program Organizer
g3rwl@amsat.org
FOC # 1188
* FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS *
======================
The JARL command station for FO-29 has released the following operating
schedule that will be in effect through the beginning of September:
July 26 (Mon) - Aug 9 (Mon) Mode JA
Aug 9 (Mon) - Aug 12 (Thu) Mode JD 1200
Aug 12 (Thu) - Aug 23 (Mon) Mode JA
Aug 23 (Mon) - Aug 26 (Thu) Mode JD 1200
Aug 26 (Thu) - Sept 9 (Thu) Mode JA
[Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK]
* GENERAL VOICE CONTACTS WITH MIR PLANNED *
===========================================
RK3AP has reported through WF1F that a series of amateur radio contacts
between the Russian space station Mir and licensed radio amateurs on earth
have been scheduled for the first three Sundays in August (August 1, 8,
and 15). The goal of this event is to allow as many ground stations who
have never contacted Mir a chance to do so. Those who have already made
contacts with Mir in the past are kindly asked to refrain from calling
Mir during this special event.
The crew will switch between the following frequencies and call "CQ CQ
This is the Russian Space Station Mir":
Primary 145.985 FM simplex
Temporary 1 145.825 FM simplex
Temporary 2 145.800 FM simplex
The crew will not be active during their sleep periods (01:00 to 11:00 UTC),
and during some of the passes over Russia, it is possible the Mir crew may
have to shorten their planned public access times because of pre-scheduled
radio links with family members living on Earth. Slow-scan television
transmissions are expected to take place one hour before and one hour
after the crew prepares for their general voice contacts. A change
in the cosmonaut's work schedule could result in a cancelling of this
event.
Miles Mann, WF1F suggests the following operating tips:
1) Listen first before transmitting.
2) Wait until the crew says CQ or QRZ.
3) When you hear CQ/QRZ, just say the last two letters of you callsign,
twice (although this doesn't satisfy the legal requirement for proper
station identification), and wait for the crew to call you.
4) Keep your conversation short and speak very slowly. If you are fluent
in French or Russian that's better. English is also acceptable.
5) When you are done, the crew will usually remember to say CQ/QRZ for the
next station waiting. When the band is too crowded, Jean-Pierre usually
says "Break Break", which is his way of asking all stations to please
stop transmitting.
6) Although the crew will sometimes leave their Kantronics KPC-9612 packet
radio TNC ON while they are on voice so they can read OLD mail, please do
not make any packet radio transmissions to Mir while they are on voice.
7) Do not ask the crew about the QSL card procedures. The Mir crew does
not keep a log of radio contacts. Just send a card to one of the two
address below for verification. SWL cards are also available to those
who successfully log reception of Mir during this event.
Please provide the following information with your QSL or SWL card:
Your name and address, country, zip code.
Date and time of your contact (in UTC format).
Signal report (best guess)
Your station equipment (transceiver and antenna) (optional)
Envelopes should be well sealed and should not include cash. Send a
self-addressed envelope and one or two IRCs (which can be purchased
at major US post offices) along with your QSL or reception report.
Do not display any Amateur Radio callsigns on the outside of the
envelope.
Send your report/QSL card to:
Sergej Samburov
PO Box 73
Korolev-10 City
Moscow Area, 141070, Russia
[Info via Miles Mann, WF1F]
* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor
(John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below:
WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
PACKET : KD2BD @ N2SMV.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, KITSAT-OSCAR-25
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